Class Info

Welcome to CS21. This course will introduce fundamental ideas in computer
science while also teaching you how to write computer programs. We will
study algorithms for solving problems and implement solutions in the
Python programming language. Python is an
interpreted language that is known for its ease of use. We also introduce
object-oriented programming and data structures. A deeper coverage of these
topics will be presented in CS 35.

This course is appropriate for all students who want to learn how to write
computer programs and think like computer scientists. It is the usual first
course for computer science majors and minors. Students with advanced placement
credit or extensive programming experience should place out of this course and
instead begin with CS 33 or CS 35.

Study sessions

You are invited -- and encouraged -- to participate in Ninja evening study
sessions to prepare for quizzes, to discuss programming concepts, and
to get friendly assistance in working on lab assignments. Our CS
mentoring team is dedicated to helping students, who have no prior
knowledge of computer science, learn to program in Python while
keeping their senses of humor intact. As an added bonus, free food
will be provided at the sessions. The sessions are held:

Weekly Evening Ninja Sessions

Sundays

7-9pm

Sci Center 240

Wednesdays

7-9pm

Sci Center 240

Lab Sessions

The CS lab is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for you to use
for CS21 lab assignments.
In addition, the CS21 professors will be in the CS labs
at the times listed below to help CS21 students with lab assignments.
You are not required to attend any of these sessions, but you should
take advantage of them to get assistance with your lab assignments.
Any CS21 student is welcome to attend any/all session.

Weekly Lab Sessions

1:30-3:00 Mondays

Danner

Science Center 240

2:30-4:00 Mondays

Waterman

Science Center 240

2:00-3:30 Fridays

Knerr

Science Center 240

Accessing the CS labs after hours

You can use your ID to gain access to the computer labs
at nights and on the weekends. Just wave your ID over
the microprox reader next to the lab doors. When the green
light goes on, just push on the door handle to get in
(the door knob will not turn). If the green light doesn't
go on, then we need to enter your microprox number
into the system. email local-staff@cs.swarthmore.edu
if you have problems with this. If the building is locked, you
can use your ID to enter the door between Martin and Cornell library.
For this class, your ID will give you access to the labs in rooms
238 and 240.

How to Succeed in CS 21

Attend class.
The primary introduction to course material is through class lecture.
Additionally, we often do lab exercises during class. This
is an important part of the learning process, as these exercises give
you immediate experience with the material we are covering.

Read the material before you come to class.
Don't worry about total comprehension, but at least get a feel for
what we will be covering that week. If you have some understanding of
the material coming into class, it will be easier for you to ask
questions during class, rather than later when help may not be
available.

Ask questions if you don't understand.
This means both during class and while doing lab assignments . This class
continually builds on previous material, so if you don't understand
something one week, it will continue to be a problem the next week,
and the week after that, and so on. If you need help, ask your classmates
(make sure you have read the "Academic Integrity" section below first),
attend the lab and study sessions, come talk with me during my office hours,
or email me your question.

Start the lab assignments early.
I realize this one is not always easy to do, but if you can get in the
habit of doing this, you will be much better off. If you get
stuck early (i.e., not two hours before it is due), there will be time
to look for help. In addition, if you start early enough, you can
take a break, go do something else, and come back later. I find I
always have at least a few new ideas when I come back to a problem
after a break. If you wait until the last minute, you can't do this.

Practice, practice, practice. The only effective way to
learn the material and pass the quizes and exams is to consistently
do the labs. Finish all of the assigned programs (and do some extras,
for fun!). Even if you don't get them done on time, they will still
help you learn the material.

Seek help early and often. Because course material builds
on previous material, it is essential to your success in this class
that you keep up with the course material. If you are having difficulty
with a programming assignment, if you didn't follow something covered
in lecture, if you feel you need some extra help understanding or
practicing some of the course material, or if you just want to discuss
something from a lecture, an assignment, or the text, please come to
my office hours.

Attend CS21 Labs and Study Sessions. The student Ninjas
hold evening study sessions each week.
You are encouraged to participate in these sessions. The Ninjas
will help you prepare for quizzes, will provide additional instruction
in programming concepts, and will provide friendly assistance on
your lab assignments. The CS 21 professors hold lab sessions each
week. You are encouraged to attend these to get help with lab assignments.

Take hand written lecture notes. In lecture the professor
often draws diagrams on the board, some of which you will need to reproduce.
Taking notes with paper and pen (vs. on the computer) will allow you to
copy these diagrams.

Academic Accommodations

If you believe that you need accommodations for a disability, please contact
Leslie Hempling in the Office of Student Disability Services, located in
Parrish 130, or e-mail lhempli1 to set up an appointment to discuss your
needs and the process for requesting accommodations. Leslie Hempling is responsible
for reviewing and approving disability-related accommodation requests and, as
appropriate, she will issue students with documented disabilities an Accommodation
Authorization Letter. Since accommodations may require early planning and are not
retroactive, please contact her as soon as possible. For details about the
Student Disabilities Service and the accomodations process, visit the
Disability Services webpage.

To receive an accommodation for a course activity, you must have an Accomodation
Authorization letter from Leslie Hempling and you need to meet with me to work
out the details of your accommodation at least one week prior to the activity.

You are also welcome to contact me privately to discuss your academic needs. However,
all disability-related accommodations must be arranged through Leslie Hempling in
the Office Of Student Disability Services.

Grading

Grades will be weighted as follows:

40%

Lab assignments

30%

Quizzes

25%

Final Exam

05%

Class Participation

Quiz policy

Quizzes will be given at the
beginning of class on the days posted in the Announcements section of
the Schedule. Please look over these
dates carefully and contact the professor in advance if you cannot be
in class for a quiz.

If you are not present at the start of class on the day of a quiz, but
make it to class before the end, then you may take the quiz.
Otherwise you will receive a zero for that quiz.

Lab policy

Lab assignments will typically be assigned in class at the
beginning of the week and will be due before midnight the following
Tuesday night. You are strongly encouraged to start early and to
attend the study sessions for extra practice.

You will submit you assignments electronically using the
handin21 program. You may submit your assignment multiple
times, but each submission overwrites the previous one and only the
final submission will be graded.

Late assignments will only be accepted if you contact the professor
at least a day before the deadline with a legitimate reason for
needing extra time, such as an illness or needing to leave campus.

Even if you do not fully complete an assignment, you should
submit what you have done to receive partial credit.

Programming Style

Programming is not a dry mechanical process, but a form of art. Well
written code has an aesthetic appeal while poor form can make other
programmers and instructors cringe. Programming assignments will be
graded based on style and correctness. Good programming practices
usually include many of the following principles:

Academic Integrity

Academic honesty is required in all work you submit to be
graded. You may not submit work done with (or by)
someone else, or examine or use work done by others to
complete your own work.
Your code should never be shared with anyone;
you may not examine or use code belonging to someone else,
nor may you let anyone else look at or make a copy of your
code. This includes sharing solutions after the due date
of the assignment.

All code you submit must be your own with the following
permissible exceptions: code distributed in class, code
found in the course text book, and code worked on with an
assigned partner. In these cases, you should always include
detailed comments that indicates on which parts of the
assignment you received help, and what your sources were.

Discussing ideas and approaches to problems with others on a general
level is fine (in fact, we encourage you to discuss general strategies
with each other), but you should never read anyone else's code or let
anyone else read your code. You may discuss assignment specifications
and requirements with others in the class to be sure you understand the
problem. In addition, you are allowed to work with others to
help learn the course material. However, with the exception
of your lab partner, you may not work with others on your
assignments in any capacity.

``It is the opinion of the faculty that for an intentional
first offense, failure in the course is normally
appropriate. Suspension for a semester or deprivation of
the degree in that year may also be appropriate when
warranted by the seriousness of the offense.'' - Student Handbook (2010-2011, pg20 Section A.3.b.i)